Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-07-07
July 4th. 1887.

rlOtlSm, ISIeneu Tor the last Str0ke OF
twelve and sent forth the ''ironmusic' of
every bell in town and effectaally pre-
vented sleep the remainder Of the night.
The sun, failing to rise at the proper
time, postponed the sunrise salute until
about eight o'clock.
The city was decorated appropriately
with flags, and all the business houses
were draped. A beautiful Goddess of
Liberty stood near the court yard gate.
An old soldier of Revolutionary days
surmountcd the arch above tho front
gate. while George Washington and
another goddess stood guard over the
northeast and north entrances. Burst
ing from the watery clouds the sun
would at one time promise the prov
erbial Fourth of July heat, but the
next moment it disappeared to stay and
the rain came down in a most unprom-
ising manner. Even this dark prospect
did not prevent preparations going for
ward for the parade of the Komical
Kurious Krew; neither did it prevent the
people from coming to Lancaster as
they had planned. The morning parade
was omitted on account of the mud and
rain, and the address was postponed
until one O'Clock. By that time the
weather had cleared up and large
crowd assembled. After music by the
band and male chorus, the president
of the day. Capt. c. II. Baxter well
coined the people who had come and
staid through the rainy morning, say
ing that, as most of them we're farmers,
they were. no doubt, so thankful for
the rain that they hardly noticed their
discomfort. 1t meant dollars to a
farmer.
Prayer was offered by the chaplain,
Rev. S. S. Grinnell, followed by read
ing of the Declaration of Independence
by Mr.. r. A. Watkins. Captain Baxter
then introduced the speaker, Mr.. G. L.
Foster, of Cherokee, Iowa. Mr.. Foster
began by referring to the scene on the
battlefield of Gettysburg twenty-four
years ago that day. The intense heat.
and the terrible suffering of the wound
ed when the cooling showers came
bringing life and hope to hundreds who
had csc aped the rain of shot and shell.
The famous "Old Abe" who was proud
| ly borne through the war by the 9Th
Wisconsin regiment, had the character
istics of the American people. They,
like him, are of long continued patriot
ism, and with patience equaled only by
his they will listen to patriotic speech.
This holiday. he said. was fortunately
placed in the year, coming, as it does
so far from the Christmas festivities, it
is, also at a season when people are
glad of the days recreation and rest.
The Fourth of July Grafton has become
chestnut" but still, each year it is
repeated to crowds of listening people,
and still the anniversary is observed in
the same good old way. Each nation
has its peculiarities. The Frenchman
will dance, the Spaniard enjoy bull
fight, the German will sleep, the Eng
lishman will eat, the lrishman will
fight, the Russian, kill a. car, the
Scotchman will think. the Canadian,
brag, the South American, incite an in
surrection, but the American will make
speech, and when it comes on this day
it must be about the same old story.
Friendly relations exist between us and
all other great powers, Russia especi-
ally has always been on our side.
Even England is now friend of ours.
repenting her mistake of 1916. The
Puritans did not all leave in the May
flower. The class who sailed from
England's shores to America established
the love of liberty so firmly in the
hearts OF their descendants that they
could not long bear oppressive rule.
An equal amount of religious and pat
riotic zeal remained behind The mis-
take of the English king in OBTAINING
Cromwell when he was ready to sail.
brought about the kings death and the
establishment of the Dictator upon the
vacant throne.
The ordinance of 1887 was discussed
IN its relation to Wisconsin's freedom
from slavery. Revolution is just and
right, but the crime of treason should
be also recognized and punishment
provided. Three great cases of treason
stand ON record, Benedict Arnold,
Aaron Burr and Jefferson Davis. Only
one of these ever came to trial and our
country's laws are such that he was
acquitted.
In the late civil war Wisconsin's sol
diers bore as proud record as any who
fought. 1t was Wisconsin man to
whom belongs the honor of saving the
Union ships by applying his knowledge
of rafting learned from floating logs
through the Dells. The Iron Brigade
is honored wherever war history is
known. The record of the various
regiments was reviewed at length and
their example commended to the
younger generation for eff Columbia's
sons prove true to Wisconsin, they will
prove true to the Union; true to the
signers of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence; and true to the formers of the
constitution.
This brief synopsis only gives an out
line of the thoughts developed in this
eloquent address.
Those who were near enough to hear
listened with undiminished interest to
the polished sentences of the finest
Fourth of July Grafton it has ever been
our privilege to hear, and those who
thought it would be the same old
story were both right ond wrong. 1t
was the same old story made new.
After the applause following the ora
ton had died away the loud cheering
and laughing announced that the K. K.
X. was coming. The marshals were
handsomely dressed, and the giant was